How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Colorado - CO

The need for dental workers across the country is on the rise, especially dental hygienists. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this career to increase by almost 30% by 2016. This is a much faster growth rate than average. There are currently 3,070 registered dental hygienists in Colorado.

How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Colorado

Graduate from high school or have a GED. Classes that place emphasis on biology, chemistry and mathematics are encouraged. These classes may be prerequisites for some dental hygiene schools.

Apply to accredited dental hygiene schools in Colorado. Most dental hygiene schools offer two to three year programs that include a variety of health, science, and dental classes as well as supervised clinical hours that have mandatory hand-on learning opportunities. The state of Colorado requires at least a two year dental hygiene program to be completed for licensure.

Complete a CPR class to become certified in CPR.

Finish approved dental hygiene program. Upon completion, you will be eligible to take the American Dental Association National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. You will also need to complete a clinical examination given by a regional testing service or a Colorado state examination.

Apply for a dental hygienist license with the Colorado Board of Dental Examiners.

Search for a job as a dental hygienist. You are not allowed to legally practice as a dental hygienist in Colorado until you are licensed. You can check your license status online at the Colorado Board of Dental Examiners website: www.dora.state.co.us.